Improvement in steam-engine governors



LEONARD F. FULLER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.`

Letters Patent No. 76,071, dated lhrarch 3l, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN STAMjENGINE-GOVERNORS.

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TO ALL WHOM .I'I MAY CONCRN:

Be it known that I, LEONARD FFULLER, of Providence', in the county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improved Variable Cut-Cif Governor for Steam and other Engines; and I do hereby dechire the 'following to be a full and vcorrect description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The same letters refer to like parts in all the figures Figure I is a vertical longitudinal section of the regulator and valves.

Figure 2.is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken through just above the valves.

The construction is as follows C is the regnlator-arm, having` a ball on each end, D D', and vibrating at its centre on the'stud or pivot E, between the jaws of the spindle A. The pivot E is fastened to the arm O, so as to turn with it, and has secured to one end the segment of a bevel-gear, F, which meshes into the bevel-gear G, secured on the barrel III, which is loose on the spindle A. The disk M is also fast .to the spindle A, which is connected with tbe-crank-shaft of the engine, so as to make an equal number of revolutions in avgiven time with that shaft; and as it revolves it carries with it the regulator-arm, segment-gear F, and, by means of the gear G, the barrelII. There are two projections, I, at the end ofthis barrel, near the disk M, between which the tongue L is hung, so a-s to move easily-on the pivot K. The tongue L extends .over the outside ofthe disk, or between it and the frame N which surrounds it. The edge of the disk M has a portion of its circumference 'fluted or grooved like a tine gear-wheel, and the inner fuceof the tongueL is uted in a corresponding manner,

so that the projections on one will lock into the grooves in the other when they are pressed together. A spring, R, is put on the inner end of the tongue L, ifthe weight of it, or the centrifugal force, is not sufficient to keep it clear of the disk when not moving the valves.

In the steam-boxes P P arethe cut-off valves OO, which are connected to the frame Nvby rods passing through stuiIinlg-boxes in the sides of the steam-boxes, inthe usual way. The frame N is moved by the tongue L coming in contact with it at the points JJ, for at whatever part ofthe disk the tongue may be when it comes in'contact with the frame N, it will be pressed against the disk,'and the projections and grooves interlocking, as before stated, the tongue will be held Hrm to thev disk, so as to move the frame and close the valve at that end; but the instant the tongue has left the point of contact, it will be thrown clear of the disk by the spring, so as to be free to obey the regulator;

The position of the tongue L, with regard to the disk M, is determined by the bails D D, for if they fly out because of an increase of speed, they move thensegment-wheel F, which turns the barre1-H by the gear G, and advance the tongue L around the face of the disk, so that it arrives at the peint of contact, J, sooner, and

closes the cut-off valve at an earlier period of the stroke of the piston; that is, supposing the balls of the regulator to be i-n the position shown in fig. I, then the several parte will be as -shown at hg. 3, with the crank at Y, near the end of the stroken-hen the tongue L reaches J and closes the valve, but if, after the tongue passes J, there is asudden increase of speed, and the balls take the position shown by the dotted lines, fig. I, the

tongue L will be carried to X, 6.5.73,- and will close the other valve by the time the crank has reached W on the return-stroke, which is at about one-eighth stroke.

A spring, S, is coiled around the barrel H, one end of which is fastened to the collar T, which is attached to the barrel, and the other end is secured to the stud a in the spindle A, which projects through an opening in the barrel. This spring is for the purpose of bringing the balls back when thrown out by an increase of speed, nndioperates by turning the barrel, and onthe balls throughthe gear-wheel and segment before mentioned. By loosing the set-screw in the collar T, the collar may be turned on the barrel, vandA more or less tension :put upon the spring, as required. y

In this 4governor the shock of closing the valve is not thrown upon the arm and balls, nor are they influucnced by it, Abut it is thrown upon the disk, which is driven by the main shaft with a positive motion. This prevents theivibration of the balls, often observed in some regulators, caused by. lackof positive motionto move the valves, and depending, instead, more orless upon the inertia of the balls to operate the valves.

This feature (of positive motion) also adapts this regulator especially to engineslrunning at high speed, as the eut-offs are operated with a. correctness as to time of strokeI not attainablevwhen the valves are closed by springs or Weights. Having thus described my improved governor, what I claim :is my invention, :1nd desire to secure by Lot-'- ters Patent', is 4 l 1. I claim the (lisllM and tongue L, in combination with the fra-me N, substantially as herein described I and for thc,` purpose set forth.

2. I claim the combination of the segmentgeatr wheel F, gear-wheel Gr, and barrel H, arranged substantially as specified, and for the purpose set forth.

3. I claim the4 spring S, collar T, and barrel H, arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. I claim the spring R, with tongue L, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

LEONARD F. FULLER.

Witnesses:

J. LEON WAI'SSWORTH, FREDERIC FULLER. 

